First lady Michelle Obama may be coming to Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland said Wednesday he hopes first lady Michelle Obama will visit Utah to raise money for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign — and possibly make a public appearance.

Holland initially announced Michelle Obama was coming July 26 to Utah to party members and the media but later said the White House had yet to confirm the visit.

"We are still hoping that the first lady will visit Utah, but there is nothing confirmed at this point," Holland said. "We always look forward to party leaders, elected officials and community leaders from across the country visiting Utah and sharing the Obama administration's vision for the future."

He said he has already been hearing from party members excited about the prospect of seeing Michelle Obama in Utah again.

"What has been surprising to me has been the response," Holland said. "The first lady has quite a following."

Many Utahns saw her during the 2008 campaign, when she made a speech to some 1,000 supporters at the Salt Palace the day before the state's last presidential primary election. Michelle Obama also met then with two apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve.